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Christian rockers Newsboys back in Salem April 8

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Wine Country Rocks Concert Series features five concerts throughout the summer, bringing lawn chairs and blankets is advised, 6 to 9 p.m., concerts being at 7 p.m. on Fridays, through Aug. 31, Legacy Estate Vineyard. $15. Visit eolahillswinery.com/2018-concert-series for more information on bands and artists. BROOKE JACKSON-GLIDDEN / Statesman Journal

Yoga + Beer comes to Salem Ale Works the first Saturday of the month, Victory Club the second Wednesday of the month, Gilgamesh (when the weather is nice) the third Wednesday of the month, Rock Boxx the second Sunday of the month,1859! Cider Co. the last Sunday of each monthand at Eola Hills the first Monday of the month (featuring wine instead of beer. $5 suggested donation. cheersandnamaste.com. Yoga + Beer

The garden of historic landscapers Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver, the first women landscapers to open a practice in the Pacific Northwest, are open to the public on the second Sunday and third Saturday of the month, 1 to 4 p.m., Gaiety Hollow. $5 for those 16 and older. Courtesy the Lord & Schryver Conservancy

Spray fountains in Salem will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Riverfront Park and River Road Park, and noon to 8 p.m. at Fairmount Park, Northgate Park, Wes Bennett Park, West Salem Park and Englewood Park daily throughout the summer. Statesman Journal file

The Guess Who will join John Kay & Steppenwolf at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31,at the Oregon State Fair. General admission is free, VIP is an additional cost. oregonstatefair.org. Special to the Statesman Journal

Story Highlights

Grammy-nominated Christian rock band Newsboys returns to Salem April 8, bringing its "Love Riot Tour" to the Oregon State Fairgrounds.

"Love Riot" is a timely album, said lead singer Michael Tait. “Love is a verb. It's going to take conscious, continuous action, acts of kindness to perpetuate what I believe is God-given purpose for man ... Love being the glue.”

“The show is going to be fantastic,” Tait said. “I often say a Newsboys show is like a black baptist fiery church service meets MTV Video Music Awards. That’s the best example. Spot on.”

In addition to a night of live music, the show will feature a never-seen-before, all-new theatrical experience, “God’s Not Dead LIVE! Rivals,” which brings an ensemble cast of singers, actors and dancers together to answer the question “Can God really make a difference?”

"With this tour, we wanted to try something brand new, something different,” Tait said. “There's something about drama, seeing scenes acted out, lived out right in front of you that has a different effect. We are very excited about sharing this new theatrical experience with our fans.”

Tait is appreciative of the diversity of the band’s fanbase. “What’s great is our crowd is everything literally from 4-year-olds to 84-year-olds. Nothing excites me more now. I love that we pull out all ages.”

Catch Newsboys' "Love Riot Tour" April 8 at the Pavilion at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. Tickets are $25 to $100.(Photo: Courtesy of Newsboys)

Newsboys has been wowing crowds for decades, and part of that is thanks to its ability to keep things fresh.

“We love what we do,” Tait said. “And we do it with joy. It’s a blast. I’ve done it for going on 30 years now. and when you see the show, you will see a happy little chocolate man-boy on stage like it’s my first show.”

“At the end of the day, as a spiritually conscious band, we know this goes deeper than just a concert,” Tait said. “For us, the excitement is in people's lives being literally changed.”